LittleRibbie
Well-Known Member
Horses hate the new orchard mix. More stems then my other hay,not as green ( but just cut )but there is nothing wrong w/it...they just prefer the other hay that I fed previously. That hay was 20.00 a bale delivered, very green, orchard w/little alfalfa and extremely soft,soft soft! BUT EXPENSIVE!!I cant afford 7 horses eatting hay that is costing me this much money but they are only eating small amt. of the new hay. I bet I rake 1/3 of each feeding and toss daily...never thru any of the other hay away.
Right now they get 1 cup Strategy AM and 1 cup PM, Then ( and this is the part that I think im doing wrong )lunch is either 1 cup Enrich 32 or 1 cup beet pulp soaked so its about 2 juicy cups.They get a couple of supplement things too. Oh and maybe a handful of oats once in a while but its really just for a treat and I dont consider it part of their food. Their hay totals about 1 flake each per day spread out thru out the day. All are turned out to graze about 1 hr. only, late in the day.They are not stalled during the day but do tend to just hang out in stalls because of the heat but they can go out into their dry lot sort of pasture area if they wanted to.My horse are not skinny and are wormed but could loose some weight so Im thinking maybe Im just feeding too much hay and they dont want it all.
With dogs if they dont eat I pick up the bowl and thats it untill next feeding...cant do that with the horses hay they dont seem to even go back to eat the less favorable stems,
Should I just try giving them less and figure if they are truly hungry they will eat it all or do I give them more to compensate for the stems they will not eat.
P.S. I tried mixing some of their favorite hay in but it just makes them know that " hey, there is better stuff in the feed room...if we just hold out alittle longer the old lady will give us some more good stuff" They will not even touch the new hay!!
Do I give them more of the Enrich...I wonder if even 1 cup daily is enough or if its even needed. Please help with suggestions. Thanks
Right now they get 1 cup Strategy AM and 1 cup PM, Then ( and this is the part that I think im doing wrong )lunch is either 1 cup Enrich 32 or 1 cup beet pulp soaked so its about 2 juicy cups.They get a couple of supplement things too. Oh and maybe a handful of oats once in a while but its really just for a treat and I dont consider it part of their food. Their hay totals about 1 flake each per day spread out thru out the day. All are turned out to graze about 1 hr. only, late in the day.They are not stalled during the day but do tend to just hang out in stalls because of the heat but they can go out into their dry lot sort of pasture area if they wanted to.My horse are not skinny and are wormed but could loose some weight so Im thinking maybe Im just feeding too much hay and they dont want it all.
With dogs if they dont eat I pick up the bowl and thats it untill next feeding...cant do that with the horses hay they dont seem to even go back to eat the less favorable stems,
Should I just try giving them less and figure if they are truly hungry they will eat it all or do I give them more to compensate for the stems they will not eat.
P.S. I tried mixing some of their favorite hay in but it just makes them know that " hey, there is better stuff in the feed room...if we just hold out alittle longer the old lady will give us some more good stuff" They will not even touch the new hay!!
Do I give them more of the Enrich...I wonder if even 1 cup daily is enough or if its even needed. Please help with suggestions. Thanks